CUTTING SET SYSTEM FOR A MEAT GRINDER

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a cutting set system for a meat grinder.

[0002] Meat grinders are used to grind pieces of meat and are equipped with cutting elements, such as perforated discs and knives. During the grinding process, the knife is driven and the perforated disc is held stationary in the housing. After several cutting processes, the cutting elements are removed from the housing and, if necessary, sharpened before being reinserted. Frequent assembly and disassembly are also necessary to maintain hygiene. The correct assignment of all cutting elements to a cutting system and their proper installation are important for good grinding results.

[0003] Meat grinders based on the Enterprise principle work with a perforated plate and a knife. The knife edge faces the perforated plate. Incorrect insertion of the knife after cleaning is rather unlikely. A meat grinder based on the Unger principle uses several cutting sets or cutting set elements, such as pre-cutters, perforated plates and knives. The knives usually have cutting edges or blades on both sides so that they can interact with adjacent perforated plates. One such knife is shown in the document DE 43 01 787 C1. When fitting such a knife, care must be taken to ensure that the cutting edges point in the direction of rotation. If such a knife is incorrectly fitted twisted, i.e. the cutting edges of the knife do not point in the direction of rotation, then although it will still cut, it will most likely be damaged by overloading.There are also meat grinders that have a driven perforated disc. Here, too, care must be taken to ensure that the perforated discs are installed correctly, especially if their holes are conical.

[0004] To prevent incorrect installation, DE 809 769 discloses providing a cross-section for the hole of the wing knife and the collar of the knife pivot that has the shape of a scalene, asymmetrical polygon. This is acceptable for the system described therein, in which only one knife is mounted on the knife pivot of the auger. However, this solution is disadvantageous for the knife pivot of a meat grinder, onto which several cutting elements are pushed for mincing meat. In particular, the cutting elements arranged in a rotationally fixed manner on the knife pivot would have a central opening that is far too large for the knife pivot, which is undesirable.

[0005] GB 1,134,910 also describes a meat grinder. To prevent incorrect installation of the knife(s), the knife pivot has two surfaces that are angled at different angles and of different widths, which correspond to the corresponding openings in the knives. The disadvantage here is that the knife pivot is weakened because it is not consistently wide. In recent years, cutting set elements in meat grinders have had to absorb ever greater forces, as the throughput of the machines has continued to increase while the diameter of the knife pivot has remained largely the same. To prevent damage to the meat grinder, weakening of the force-transmitting knife pivot must be avoided. Furthermore, only knives that are adapted to the shape of the knife pivot can be fitted to the knife pivot described here.If the new knife spindle is introduced in accordance with this document and old knives are still present in the company, these cannot be reused but must be scrapped, which is unsustainable and leads to increased costs.

[0006] The object of the present invention is to propose a simple, reliable cutting set system that, on the one hand, prevents incorrect installation of each cutting set element of the cutting set system, such as a knife or a perforated disc, and, on the other hand, also enables the assignment of the cutting set elements to a cutting set system. This object is achieved with a cutting set system having the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments are described in the subclaims. The new cutting set system for a meat grinder comprises a drivable

[0007] Knife pivot and cutting set elements mounted on the knife pivot in a rotationally fixed manner, such as a knife and / or a perforated disk. The cross-section of the through-bore of this cutting set element is adapted to the cross-section of the knife pivot. The knife pivot can have different cross-sections, for example a square, a hexagon or other polygonal cross-sections, so that the knife can be driven by rotation of the knife pivot. In this case, the knife pivot has a cross-section in which the circumferential surface comprises two parallel partial circumferential surfaces and further partial circumferential surfaces connecting these parallel partial circumferential surfaces. For such a knife pivot, the cutting set element has a through-bore with an inner surface which has corresponding partial inner surfaces, so that when the knife pivot rotates, the mounted cutting set element is carried along by the knife pivot.The partial circumferential surfaces of the knife pin act as drive surfaces on the adjacent partial inner surfaces of the cutting set element and thus transmit the torque to the cutting set element.

[0008] According to the invention, the new cutting set system has at least one coding element that is coordinated between the cutting set element and the knife pin. This coding consists of a coding element on the cutting set element and a coding element on the pin side, which are coordinated in type and shape.

[0009] In one possible embodiment, a coding element on the journal side, with any cross-section shape, interacts with a coding element on the cutting element, which has a corresponding cross-section shape. In the coding element on the cutting element, the coding element is located on the inner surface of the through-bore penetrating the central hub, and in the knife journal, the coding element on the journal side is located on its peripheral surface. In this case, the coding element is provided between two partial peripheral surfaces. Advantageously, such a coding element on the journal side requires only a slight deviation from a cross-section of the knife journal without coding.

[0010] The knife pin for the meat grinder has, in a known manner, a front connection section to the conveyor screw. This connection section comprises, for example, a thread for a screw connection to the conveyor screw. In a further embodiment, the connection between the knife pin and the conveyor screw consists of another known positive and / or non-positive connection, for example a plug-in connection. The rear section of the knife pin in the direction of flow represents the bearing section for the cutting set elements, such as knives and / or perforated disks. For non-rotatable mounting, the cutting set elements have a through-bore in their central hub. With a knife as the cutting set element, several knife wings with cutting edges on both sides are arranged around this hub. These blades interact with adjacent perforated disks arranged stationary in the meat grinder.With a driven perforated disc as the cutting element, several holes are arranged around this hub, which interact, for example, with adjacent perforated discs arranged stationary in the meat grinder. When a cutting element of the new cutting system is mounted on the knife pivot for the first time or again, for example, after cleaning or regrinding, this can only be done in the intended orientation due to the coding. The new, coordinated coding of the knife pivot and cutting element enables easy assembly and disassembly with a high level of operating safety.

[0011] According to the invention, a coding element on the tang side is provided between adjacent partial circumferential surfaces of the knife tang, and a coding element on the cutting set element is provided in a coordinated manner between two adjacent partial inner surfaces. If the coordinated coding elements are shaped elements, such as convex or concave formations on the circumferential surfaces, the coding element on the tang side and the coding element on the cutting set element will lie against one another or opposite one another in the assembled state. Such coding on the knife tang can also be easily created subsequently by removing material from the contact edge between the two aforementioned partial circumferential surfaces on a known knife tang, so that, for example, a new surface aligned in the axial direction of the knife tang is created in the region of the previous contact edge of the two adjacent partial circumferential surfaces.Such a connecting surface serving as a pin-side coding element between two adjacent partial circumferential surfaces of the knife pin, or similarly a connecting surface serving as a coding element on the cutting element between two corresponding partial inner surfaces of the cutting element, can be a flat, curved, or otherwise extending connecting surface; in the simplest form, it is a flat connecting surface. In any case, the cutting element receives a coding element adapted to the coding element of the knife pin, so that when installed, the cutting element is snugly mounted on the knife pin, ensuring good torque transmission. Such a coding element on the knife pin is not only easy to create subsequently.It also has the advantage that known knives can be mounted on such a knife pin without coding and can continue to be used in such a cutting set system, which reduces costs for the user.

[0012] To ensure that only high-quality knives or perforated disks are used in a meat grinder, an identification system can be provided for the cutting set system, namely an automatic and contactless transmitter-receiver system. Such a transmitter-receiver system can also be set up as a coordinated coding between the knife pivot and the cutting set element. This means that, on the one hand, correct installation can be determined. On the other hand, such a system can serve additionally or solely for identification. In one embodiment, such a cutting set element is equipped with a transponder, which is preferably arranged on the inner surface of the through-bore of the cutting set element, for example an RFID chip. This transponder interacts with a receiver on the meat grinder. When using an RFID chip, which has a short range, the receiver is preferably provided in the knife pivot.Such a receiver can be connected to the meat grinder control system via cables routed through an axial bore in the knife spindle. This allows you to quickly determine whether a knife is the desired high-quality cutting element and, if so, whether it is correctly inserted.

[0013] It is possible to provide one or more codes for a cutting set system. Preferably, only one code element is present on the knife spindle.

[0014] The coordinated coding between the knife pin and the cutting set element prevents incorrect installation of the cutting set element after cleaning or during initial assembly, thus increasing operating safety. It allows for identification of the correct cutting set element of a cutting set system and thus a clear assignment of the cutting set elements to a knife pin of a cutting set system.

[0015] The invention is described below using two exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawings. The cutting element in both embodiments is a knife. The coding shown can also be implemented in the same way with a perforated disc as a drivable cutting element. The drawing shows: Fig. 1:perspective view of a knife pin, Fig. 2:front view of a knife, Fig. 3:cutting set system of knife pins according to Fig. 1 and knives Fig. 2 .

[0016] The Fig. 1 bis 3 show an embodiment of the invention. In the Fig. 1 is the knife pin 10 and in the Fig. 2 the knife 20 of the Fig. 3 shown new cutting set system. Such a cutting set system is used in a meat grinder. The knife pin 10 is screwed axially into a conveyor screw (not shown here) via its connecting section 11, in this case a screw thread, and moved together with it. During this rotary movement D, the knife 20, which is mounted on the knife pin 10, namely in the bearing section 13, in a rotationally fixed manner, is driven. In the meat grinder, the knife 20 interacts with a perforated disc (not shown), which is used as an additional cutting part in a meat grinder. As a rule, a meat grinder contains a pre-cutter and at least one combination consisting of a knife 20 and perforated disc behind the contact surface 12. These are pushed onto the knife pin 10 in the bearing section. So that the knife pin 10 can drive the knife 20 during the rotary movement D, the knife pin 10 has a corresponding polygonal cross-section.This can be a square, hexagon, or other polygonal cross-section. Fig. 1 shows a knife pin 10 with a circumferential surface 15 with two parallel partial circumferential surfaces 152, 154. In between are the partial circumferential surfaces 151, 153, the latter showing a curved course.

[0017] Contact edges are located between two adjacent partial circumferential surfaces. Only between the partial circumferential surfaces 151 and 152 is the contact edge removed, creating an inclined connecting surface that serves as a coding element 14. This coding element 14 corresponds to a coding element 24 on the inner surface 23 of the blade 20. This blade 20 has a through-bore 22 in the central hub 21 with an inner surface 23 adapted to the circumferential surface 15 of the blade pin 10. Thus, the four partial inner surfaces 231, 232, 233, and 234 rest against the corresponding partial circumferential surfaces 151, 152, 153, and 154 of the blade pin 10, see Fig. 3 . The coding element 14 of the knife pivot 10 is located in the installed state of the knife 20 adjacent to the coding element 24 of the knife 20. This ensures good torque transmission from the knife pivot 10 to the knife 20. Due to this coding with the coding elements 14, 24, the knife 20 can only be pushed onto the knife pivot 10 in this orientation. A twisted arrangement, ie pushing the knife on with the Fig. 2 shown front side on the knife pin is not possible, so that it is ensured in any case that the knife 20 is correctly arranged on the knife pin 10. In this installed state, the cutting edges 26 on the knife wings 25 of the knife 20 point in the direction of rotation D and can carry out the cutting process as desired. List of reference symbols

[0018] 10 Blade pin 11 Connecting section 12 Contact surface 13 Bearing section 14 Coding element 15 Circumferential surface 151, 152, 153, 154 Partial circumferential surface 20 Blade 21 Hub 22 Through hole 23 Inner surface (drive surface) 231, 232, 233, 234 Partial inner surface 24 Coding element 25 Blade wing 26 Cutting edge D Direction of rotation

Claims

1. A cutting set system for a meat grinder, comprising a drivable knife journal (10, 10') and cutting set elements mounted on the knife journal (10, 10'), - wherein the knife journal (10, 10') has a storage section (13) for the cutting set elements mounted on the knife journal (10, 10'), - wherein a cutting set element has a central hub (21) provided with a through bore (22) for rotationally fixed mounting on the knife journal (10, 10'), wherein the cross-section of the knife journal (10, 10') is adapted to the cross-section of the through bore of the cutting set element, - wherein a plurality of partial circumferential surfaces (151, 152, 153, 154), form a circumferential surface (15) of the knife journal (10, 10') and two parallel partial circumferential surfaces (152, 154) being present and interacting as drive surfaces with appropriately designed partial inner surfaces (231, 232, 233, 234) of the inner surface (23) of the through bore (22) of the cutting element during a rotational movement in a direction of rotation (D), characterised in that - one coordinated coding is present on the inner surface (23) of the through bore (22) of the cutting element and on the circumferential surface (15) of the knife journal (10, 10'), - wherein the coding of the knife journal (10, 10') acts as a journal-side coding element (14, 14') between adjacent partial circumferential surfaces (151, 152) and, in a coordinated manner, engages with a coding element (24, 24') on the cutting element between two adjacent partial inner surfaces (231, 232).

2. The cutting set system according to claim 1, characterised in that the cutting element comprises either a perforated disc with a plurality of holes arranged around the hub (21), or a knife (20, 20') with a plurality of knife blades (25), which are arranged around its hub (21) and extend outwards from the latter, with at least one cutting edge (26).

3. The cutting set system according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that at least one coding element is employed, with the coding element (24, 24') on the cutting element having a shape corresponding to the journal-side coding element (14, 14').

4. The cutting set system according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the journal-side coding element (14) has an axis of rotation extending in the axial direction of the knife journal (10, 10'), a connecting surface of which comprises adjacent partial circumferential surfaces (151, 152) of the knife journal (10, 10'), and is formed by material removal of a contact edge of these two adjacent partial circumferential surfaces (151, 152).

5. The cutting set system according to claim 4, characterised in that the journal-side coding element (14) has an axial direction of the knife journal (10, 10'), on adjacent partial circumferential surfaces (151, 152), and the coding element (24) on the cutting element is a corresponding planar connecting surface of the partial inner surfaces (231, 232).

6. The cutting set system according to claim 4, characterised in that the journal-side coding element (14) is a curved connecting surface of adjacent partial circumferential surfaces (151, 152) extending in the axial direction of the knife journal (10, 10') and the coding element (24) on the cutting set element is a corresponding curved connecting surface of the partial inner surfaces (231, 232).

7. The cutting set system according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that in each case the number of journal-side coding elements (14, 14') is one, and the number of coding element (24, 24') present on the cutting element is one.

8. The cutting set system according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that, as coding alone or in addition, a transponder is present on the inner surface (23) of the through bore (22) of the cutting element, which transponder interacts with a receiver which is arranged in the knife journal (10, 10').

9. The cutting set system according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the knife journal (10, 10') has a front connecting section (11) for connection to a screw conveyor of the meat grinder and a rear storage section (13) for connecting mounting cutting elements, namely a pre-cutter, knife (20, 20'), or perforated disk.